Amazon Alexa can control multiple devices using routines

This was last month when Google announced the implementation of routines for multiple Google Assistant devices to control them all with single command but failed to deploy. Now, Amazon is moving step ahead of Google and announced routines for Alexa devices.

Routines are actually a set of commands which you can create and use to control multiple devices together. For Example: suppose you created a routine for bedtime to handle all the devices in a room like television, lights, temperature settings and smart lock. Now, if you give command to Alexa — “Alexa, its bedtime”, after following the command Alexa will switch off lights, turn of television, lock the doors and set the temperature for sleeping time.

To make this functional in your device you need to update your device to latest version of Smart Home Skills API. Also, developers need to allow their customers to check the current state of lights, plugs, in-wall switches, locks, and thermostats in the Alexa App, wherever they are. Using the updated API, you can now report state for each of these device types, not only when requested by Alexa, but also proactively, whenever your device changes state.

“We worked closely with Amazon as they updated the Alexa Smart Home Skill API and added new features such as proactive state reporting,” said Andy Rothfusz, Director API Integrations with August Home. “Our updated skill for August Home cameras and locks using the new API gives customers the flexibility to use Routines, Groups, and the Alexa App with our products.”

A number of smart home manufacturers updated their skills to Alexa Smart Home Skill API including August, Belkin, Ecobee, Emerson, Honeywell, LIFX, Lutron, Nest, Philips, Schlage, and TP-Link and many more are on the way.